Question

Which of the following are components of total quality management (TQM)? (Select all that apply.)

A) Pay employees competitive wages.
B) Use accurate standards to identify and eliminate problems.
C) Involve every employee.
D) Emphasize continuous improvement.
E) Provide adequate product supply.
F) Use customer and employee feedback.

Answer 1

Total Quality Management (TQM) components include using accurate standards for problem identification, involving every employee, emphasizing continuous improvement, and utilizing feedback. Competitive wages and product supply, while important, are not core components of TQM.

Step-by-step explanation:

The components of Total Quality Management (TQM) include a variety of elements focused on improving the quality of products and services within an organization. Among the options provided, the key components related to TQM are using accurate standards to identify and eliminate problems (B), involving every employee in the quality process (C), emphasizing continuous improvement (D), and using customer and employee feedback (F). Competitive wages (A) may be important for overall employee satisfaction but are not a direct principle of TQM. Adequate product supply (E) is also critical for operating a business but is not a core component of TQM, which is more focused on process and quality improvement.

The goal of scientific management, which is different from TQM, was to increase workers' efficiency (a) rather than to raise workers' pay (b). Scientific management was focused on streamlining work processes and increasing productivity.

Organizational training, as per the 2003 study by Arthur, Bennett, Edens, and Bell, has been found effective based on immediate reaction, learning outcomes, behavioral changes, and business results like productivity and profits. Such training is an important aspect of continuous improvement in TQM.